J. R. Ward and the Black Dagger Brotherhood

Take one part Cindy McCain and add one part TV lawyer Allie McBeal (only taller) and you have some idea of the physical appearance of J.R. Ward as she made her entrance to the Barnes & Noble booksigning in Milwaukee, WI. (Ok, it’s really Wauwatosa, but how many of you really know where that is?)

J. R. was regally dressed in a black and white striped ruffle blouse and wide belt with her blond hair up and pearls that brought me images of the stylish McCain. She paced in front of her fans like the lawyer she was in her former life, offering the jury evidence of the popularity of her Black Dagger Brotherhood books. J. R. had them eating out of her hand when she announced that the next book would be out next year and over the groans of the crowd announced, "What do you think? I roll over and a book comes out?"

2 new YA readers I met at J.R.’s B&N signing. Jessika, 11 and Mackenzie, 11 will be blurbing on the Saturday Breakfast (Book) Club

I had a chance to talk to J. R. Ward before the booksigning and she told me she started as a corporate lawyer in health care. She went on to write contemporary romance that didn’t catch on. In 2003, J. R. tried and failed at romantic suspense. That fall Wrath (one of her characters) came to her. "They picked me," she affirmed. At that point she said she realized that vampires can be heroes and the next 10 books were planted firmly in her head.

The author was thrilled when she realized that superheroes can be absurd, alpha, bad boys and her instinct told her that the regular rules wouldn’t work in her world. J. R. decided to write for herself. She had nothing to lose at that point.

I did ask her about Lover Unbound which kind of bothered me about the hero and heroine. J. R. admitted she made a mistake and that if she had added 10 more pages, the story could have all been wrapped up with everyone understanding where she was going with it. She insists that she listens to her fans for what is working and what is not. For her current book, Lover Avenged, she went back to basics and that, her fans agree are just where they like her to be.

17 thoughts on “J. R. Ward and the Black Dagger Brotherhood”

Oh, so wish I could have been there. Of course, that would be quite a hike from Georgia. I am a huge J.R. Ward fan and completely enamoured with the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I didn’t realize Lover Avenged was out (living in very busy cave)so now I’m off to buy it. Oh, and hurrah! Drive by videos are back!

Oh, so wish I could have been there. Of course, that would be quite a hike from Georgia. I am a huge J.R. Ward fan and completely enamoured with the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I didn’t realize Lover Avenged was out (living in very busy cave)so now I’m off to buy it. Oh, and hurrah! Drive by videos are back!

Please also count me as a “yay” for drive-by videos. Such a nice surprise to see a member of Kentucky Romance Writers featured on your blog today, too. JR’s explanation of how the series came to her is always exciting to hear.